What are the rules for a detached garage or shed in Ferndale?

Accessory structures follow Section 3.02. A detached garage or shed is allowed only on a lot with a principal building, and never in the front yard of that building.

For R-1 and R-2 lots with one- to four-unit dwellings:

• Setbacks. 5 feet from side and rear lot lines, reduced to 3 feet if the structure is fire-rated.
• Height. Maximum 20 feet.
• Separation. At least 10 feet from any other structure on the lot.

Smaller structures get a break: anything 200 square feet or less keeps the same 5 foot setbacks but is capped at 15 feet tall. On all other lots, the setbacks are 10 feet with the same 20 foot height limit.

There is no total square-footage cap on accessory structures in Ferndale. Detached garages also trigger a house-side rule: one side yard of the house must be at least 9 feet with a 7 foot driveway, unless the lot has corner or alley access (Section 2.08).